[ The Doctor has no real sense of how Lan Wangji perceives him, what he thinks of him, if only because the Doctor generally never invests much time or thought into examining such things. He likes being thought of favorably (the vanity in him that still lingers, muted), he enjoys when others think well of him, but if they don't, then they don't. They're all important to him. He would do anything for any one of them, to keep them safe, to get them home. But this place — well, it continues to thwart him at every turn.
It's a turn of good fortune to have Lan Wangji beside him now. He's skilled, he possesses a weapon; pragmatically, these are all the things the Doctor should find most helpful about the other man's presence, but none of those things are actually what hearten him most. It's simply...his presence, the simple reminder that where they go next in the unknowing dark, they don't go alone. Plus, he keep an eye on him. He worries about him. Ah, but that's true of all of them, too. Still, it amuses the Doctor momentarily to imagine what Lan Wangji would think if he knew the Doctor worried over him of all people. They're all fragile compared to him, is the problem. Desperately and frightfully fragile. Even when they wield swords.
To the matter at hand, though — the beautiful beast perched above them. Without closer examination, it's difficult to say if it might even survive, but there's a chance, and when there's a chance — no matter how small — they have to try. ]
No. It won't. [ Wounded, in pain, likely terrified. How it might have suffered here alone had they not crossed its path. The thought of it makes his hearts ache. Nothing should have to suffer alone like this, even if the unending dark is waiting for it. ]
Hello. [ To the creature, his voice pitched low, gentle. ] My friend and I, we're here to help.
[ Sentient creatures range in intelligence, so how much it will understand remains to be seen. Yet, words need not always be understood for their presence to be a comfort. Still, the Doctor is careful to advance slowly. One step only, in fact. ]
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It's a turn of good fortune to have Lan Wangji beside him now. He's skilled, he possesses a weapon; pragmatically, these are all the things the Doctor should find most helpful about the other man's presence, but none of those things are actually what hearten him most. It's simply...his presence, the simple reminder that where they go next in the unknowing dark, they don't go alone. Plus, he keep an eye on him. He worries about him. Ah, but that's true of all of them, too. Still, it amuses the Doctor momentarily to imagine what Lan Wangji would think if he knew the Doctor worried over him of all people. They're all fragile compared to him, is the problem. Desperately and frightfully fragile. Even when they wield swords.
To the matter at hand, though — the beautiful beast perched above them. Without closer examination, it's difficult to say if it might even survive, but there's a chance, and when there's a chance — no matter how small — they have to try. ]
No. It won't. [ Wounded, in pain, likely terrified. How it might have suffered here alone had they not crossed its path. The thought of it makes his hearts ache. Nothing should have to suffer alone like this, even if the unending dark is waiting for it. ]
Hello. [ To the creature, his voice pitched low, gentle. ] My friend and I, we're here to help.
[ Sentient creatures range in intelligence, so how much it will understand remains to be seen. Yet, words need not always be understood for their presence to be a comfort. Still, the Doctor is careful to advance slowly. One step only, in fact. ]